Testing the Hospitality of Churches.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 73

Testing the Hospitality of Churches.

When the churches inscribe on their bulletins the words " Strangers Cordially Welcome," do they mean what they -say, or is it all a mer© matter of form.? Miss Laura A. Smith, a young Journalist commissioned by the Ladies' Home Journal, has lately mettle a serious attempt to answer this question authoritatively.

She visited a hundred churches in America for the purpose of gauging the sort of hospitality extended to visitors by the average church. She wished not only to see what was meant by the invitation " Strangers Cordially Welcome," but also to see how many of the clergymen or the members of the congregations would, after the services, speak a word of encouragement or greeting to the stranger within their gates. " I dressed myself, she says, "in very plain clothes, and endeavoured, both by my dress and behaviour, to typify the average young woman, without means, who goes to a city to find a church home."

The results of Miss Smith's mission have proved decidedly chilling. According to her record, she was snubbed in some of the churches she visited, courteously treated in a few, and practically ignored in the majority. The usheiis, it ie true, showed her to a seat ; but in most cases church hospitality ended right there. No kindnesses were extended by members of the congregations. The Jiinisters, as a rule, gave her no greeting. She was not made to feel welcome.

At one Episcopal church in New York she " did not encounter a friendly' glance or a smile."' s Two 'men and a' lady left at the same time she did. It was raining, but none offered to share an uinibrella with her. At a great Baptist also in Nefw Yorkj where the minister preached, eloquently on the love of Christ for lives soiled, broken, and lame, she passed unnoticed. "I thought," she says, " all would rush forward and shake my hand to gather me in." She describes her experience at a third aiS follows : — '" No one offered to asher me to a seat at the Broadway Congregational Church. I selected my own. After "the Benediction the congregation resolved itself into a 'happy family' at once. This church bulletin says: 'All visitors or strangers who would like to meet members of our church are requested to remain in their pews at the close of the service.' I selected a pew, about the fifth from the front on the left of the centre aisle, to 'remain' in. It seemed to me that hundreds passed me by. No one smiled or spoke to me. Three times I stepped &sid» to allow women to pass through my pew. I stood there unnoticed for twenty-five minutes.

" I was directly in front of the minister, who was greeting members of the congregation on all sides. He looked at me and over me. At last I heard a woman's voice at my side, and — she was actually speaking to me. ' I cannot tell whether I ought to know you or not,' she said." J. explained that I was a stranger. She shook hands cordially, said she was_ glad, I came, and chatted with me. That was my first and last welcome in that churcK Perhaps the bright sunshine accentuated my shabby attire." The churches in which she received a warm greeting were the exceptional churches. In Boston she attended services" at twenty-four churches. Only one pastor spoke to her.